author

Kevin Johns

by

When you go to Can-Con, you get to meet some pretty fantastic people. The attendees are fun and intelligent, you get to listen to panels by experts in their field, and you get to meet some amazing authors. I cannot speak highly enough about this convention. Seriously, our favourite of the year. (And that includes the one that *I* organize – CON Creative Ottawa Nerds!)

This is one of the amazing authors I mentioned in the above paragraph. Kevin Johns has written several books, including as a ghost writer (I didn’t know those existed on this plane!) and he is a writing coach. He hosts free webinars occasionally, of which I have had the opportunity to attend quite a few, and he really knows what he’s talking about. And he has a new book coming out soon – M School! I was one of the fortunate few who got to Beta read this book, and OMG is it ever good!

You can meet him, and many others (including us, barring circumstances), at Can-Con 2016, happening Sept 9 – 11, 2016 at the Novotel in downtown Ottawa! I saw a sneak peek of the schedule – it’s going to be even better than last year, which I didn’t think was possible!

IMG_20151101_122532small

Reading Bites

by

Somehow I missed posting the pictures from Can-Con 2015! This is one of our absolute favourite conventions of the year, which is kinda obvious if you know that our due date coincides with their convention THIS year. (Sept 9-11) Seriously, go check them out and then buy a ticket. The writing community of Ottawa is incredible.

A red shirt, author Éric Desmarais (Follow him on Facebook, his blog, sign up for his newsletter through his website, and buy his book here) is about to get bitten by a vampire, author S. M. Carrière (Follow her on Facebook, her blog, sign up for her newsletter through her website, and buy her books here) and is pleading for the Doctor to help!

IMG_20151031_163240small

Proud of my Award Winning Writer!

by

Hello My Imaginary Friends,

My amazingly talented wife had a great weekend. First Blush was fully funded. (We’ll let you know when the pre-orders start.)

She also entered and won the Fantasy short story Scholarship from Geek Market.

We're pleased to announce that the following participants won the writing scholarships! Science-fiction: Agnes Cadieux ("Mikey") Horror: Adriana Wiszniewska ("Salvation") Fantasy: Jennifer Desmarais ("The Painting")... See more — with Marie Victoria Robertson and Jen Desmarais.
We’re pleased to announce that the following participants won the writing scholarships!
Science-fiction: Agnes Cadieux (“Mikey”)
Horror: Adriana Wiszniewska (“Salvation”)
Fantasy: Jennifer Desmarais (“The Painting”)… See more — with Marie Victoria Robertson and Jen Desmarais.

I’m extremely proud of my wife and she wrote a fantastic story.

Hopefully you will get to read it. When and if Geek Market posts it, I’ll let you know.

 

Later Days,

Éric

Romania

by

Apologies for the short and late post today. I am fighting a bad cold and can’t take traditional medication for it, due to the pregnancy, and herbal remedies don’t seem to be working very well.

One of the best stories comes from Romania. Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The fact that it has been reworked so many times and into different forms proves that it stands the test of time.

How would you feel about visiting Dracula’s castle?

Bran Castle. Image from ilovenature.world
Bran Castle. Image from ilovenature.world

Bran Castle was the inspiration for Dracula’s Castle, even though Bram never saw the castle in person. Apparently pictures were enough to stoke (I punned! heheh) his imagination. Vlad the Impaler (inspiration for Dracula himself) was reputed to have been held prisoner here in the 15th Century.

The castle is currently up for sale, and the link in the description of the picture contains more pictures of the castle. If you had $80 million dollars (euros?) would you buy this castle? Personally, I’d rather go and visit.

Let me help you plan your trip.Jen has retired from working as a travel agent. Hope you’ve enjoyed Fandom Travel.

April Laramey

by

SONY DSC

I (Jen) had the great pleasure of meeting the author April Laramey (Facebook, Twitter) this weekend, which reminded me that I had yet to post her picture with the TARDIS, taken at this year’s Can-Con. April also contributes to Capital Geek Girls and Apt 613, great sources of information around Ottawa.